Caged Eagles (27 page)

It was a beautiful New Zealand morning. She grabbed a light jacket in case she came back late. Sarah raised her head and turned right down the street. Maybe she would find something new and exciting to grab her attention. That's what life was all about anyway. She looked in at each store window admiring the merchandise. That was the plus of living in the downtown area; she had easy access to stores. A small coffee shop stood on the corner and she went inside. Coffee was never her favorite thing, but she decided that a spiced tea would be perfect.

“Hello Sarah.” Neil sat at a table against the wall. He was the only other customer in the shop.

“Hello.” She smiled pleasantly, paid for her tea, and turned to find a seat for some privacy.

“Please sit with me.” Neil took a book off the extra stool. Sarah didn't want to encourage him. He had been hitting on her ever since they had met a couple of months earlier. He had never officially asked her out but she knew he would. She didn't want to say yes, but she knew it was wrong to not move on. Today she couldn't find it in her heart to say no, and she didn't want to be alone.

“Having a pleasant morning?” His accent was strong.

“It's alright.”

“It's brighter with you here.”

“No, Neil, please, no pickup lines.” This was not the first time she'd had to tell him this.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No,” she hated her answer.

“But she's on a date,” a voice from behind her froze the marrow in her bones. “Tobian Morrison, right?” Tears welled in her eyes and she held her breath.

“No,” she turned and looked up. “It's Sarah Wells,” she choked out, and stood until their bodies just touched. She looked up into his face. “Trevor Wells, right?”

“You got it, babe.”

“Hey, you didn't say ….”

Trevor cut Neil off. “I'm not interrupting, am I?” He didn't take his eyes off Sarah.

“No, I was just about to tell this nice man I was waiting for you.”

Neil got up from the table and left.

Trevor laughed and said, “Let's get out of here.”

“First,” she placed her palm on his chest. “How did you make it? I can't bear to wake up if this is a dream.”

“There were three of us, and one bullet-proof vest. They refused to wear it. They told me that morning I had something they had never found. Something a lot of people don't.”

“What?”

“A love that only we have and everyone wants.” He put an arm around her and she shuddered, but wrapped her arms around him too. Their lips met. The kiss was deep and full of passion.

“So, let's get on with our date, Sarah Wells.”

Sarah giggled and leaned her head against his shoulder for an instant. “Only if I get to be Tinker Bell, or maybe Wendy.”

“What is your fascination with me wearing green tights, woman!”

“You're right; women do usually play the role of Peter Pan, so you be Wendy.” Sarah snickered and Trevor replied, “That's it, I'm putting Jane and Tarzan back on the table.”

She put her forehead against his shoulder to laugh. Trevor placed a finger under her chin and raised her head. He looked into Sarah's eyes. They shone and sparkled like stars, but the golden brown grabbed him as it had on the very first day. Right there they became lost, free, in love, in another world.